Joist pockets



Oct. 15, 1957 F. P. M ELWEE JOIST POCKETS Filed April 11, 1955 BY $7210. $070M Meme,

I ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent JOEST PUCKETS Frank Patrick McElwee, Baltimore, Md.

Application April 11, 1955, Serial No. 500,468

2 Claims. (Cl. 2095) This invention relates to metal brackets or pocketsused to support wooden structural members, and more particularly tosupport the ends of beams or joists where they join walls of columns.

The general object of the invention is to provide a device of thisnature which shall be capable of effectively securing the ends of joistsand the like to walls, especially brick walls and chimneys, withoutbreaking into or damaging such Walls.

Another object is to devise a pocket or bracket of this kind soconstructed as to provide a space through which nails may be driven intothe joist at a point closely adjacent the wall so that the usual fasciaboards or boxing may be applied around the beams or joists, if desired.

in order that the invention may be readily understood, refer nce is hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and inwhich:

Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved joist pocket as it appearswhen applied to a brick wall, a fragment of the joist being also shown;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on the line 2?. of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 3 3 of 1,looking in the direction of the arrows; a .d

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my improved pocket itself.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates a brick wall of theusual construction; B, a beam or joist to be supported; and C, thefascia boards or boxing commonly employed.

My improved pocket or bracket comprises a rectangular metallic member orbox having side walls 1 and 2, and top and bottom walls 3 and 4,respectively. Both ends of the box are open so that the beam or joistmay be readily inserted therein.

Formed integral with the top and bottom Walls 3 and are tongues 5 and 6,respectively. The tongue 5 comrises a portion 5 lying in the plane ofthe top wall 3 and extending a definite distance to a point 5 at whichpoint the tongue is bent at right angles and extends vertically upward.

Similarly, the tongue 6 has a portion 6 lying in the plane of the bottomwall 4 and extending a definite distance to a. point 6 at which point itis bent at right angles so as to extend vertically downward.

It will thus be seen that the faces of the tongues 5 and 6 lie in acommon vertical plane, and that this plane is spaced or offset from thevertical plane defined by the edges 1 and .2 of the side walls 1 and 2.

The top and bottom walls 3 and 4 are provided with pairs of nail holes3' and 4', respectively, and the tongues 5 and 6 are formed with pairsof bolt holes 5 and 6', respectively.

In applying the pocket to a brick wall such as shown in Fig. l, thetongues 5 and 6 are placed flat against the wall and are secured theretoby means of bolts 7. In the case of a brick wall these bolts may be inthe nature of expansion bolts, and if applied to a wooden frame they maybe in the nature of lag screws.

The beam B to be supported and which may be made up of a pair of 2" x 8"joists as shown, is inserted in the pocket or bracket and extendsthrough the same into substantial contact with the wall. These joistsmay be secured to the pocket by means of nails 8 driven through theholes such as 3' or 4.

By virtue of the portions 5 and 6 of the tongues 5 and 6 it will be seenfrom an inspection of Fig. 1 that the rear edges l and 2 of the pocketare spaced a substantial distance from the wall, as indicated at 9.When, therefore, as usual, fascia boards or boxing C are used to enclosethe beam or joists as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, these boards may besecured to the joists by driving nails it through the same and throughthe space 9 between the pocket and the wall. These boards, of course,overlie the pocket and enclose the same as shown.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an exceptionallysimple and etrective device for anchoring the end of a beam or joist toa wall, particularly a brick wall or chimney, without damaging the wall,all that is necessary being to drill a few holes for the reception ofthe expansion bolts, and it is thought that the many advantages or" theinvention will be readily appreciated by those familiar with suchmatters.

What I claim is:

l. A joist pocket for attaching the end of a joist to a vertical wall,said pocket comprising a rectangular ietal box having side walls, andtop and bottom walls, but open at its opposite ends, supporting tonguesprojecting from the edges of said top and bottom walls and extendingupwardly and downwardly respectively, said tongues lying in a commonplane, which plane is parallel with but spaced a substantial distancefrom the plane of the rear end of said box, whereby a nailing space isprovided between the rear edges of said box and the wall.

2. A joist pocket for attaching the end of a joist to a vertical wall,said pocket comprising a rectangular metal box having side walls, andtop and bottom walls, but open at its opposite ends, supporting tonguesprojecting from the edges of said top and bottom walls and having theportions adjacent thereto lying in the planes of said walls up to adefinite point, said tongues beyond such point being bent upwar ly anddownwardly, respectively, and lying in a common plane, said planeextending parallel with but spaced a substantial distance from the planeof the rear end of said box, whereby said box is held by said tonguesaway from the wall to provide a nailing space between itself and thewall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,214,738 W'olf Feb. 6, 1917 1,623,892 Sobray Apr. 5, 1927 2,376,966Ingerman May 29, 1945

